Rigid air valve

Abstract

A rigid air valve comprises a valve body and a valve stem. The valve body has a shoulder for abutting an inner cylindrical surface of the wheel. A first protruding portion extends radially outwardly from the shoulder into a valve hole. The first protruding portion extends to a tire-side surface of the wheel. A second protruding portion extends both radially inwardly and axially outwardly through a hole in a center plate of the wheel to thereby define a curved air passageway extending from a first opening in the first protruding portion to a second opening in the second protruding portion. The valve stem has external threads for engaging complementary internal threads inside the second protruding portion. The valve stem includes a valve for selectively admitting air into a tire when mounted on the wheel. This valve is robust and durable, reduces inflation time and eliminates leaky spuds and O-rings.

1 . A rigid air valve for use with a wheel, the valve comprising:
 a valve body having:
 a shoulder for abutting an inner cylindrical surface of the wheel; 
 a first protruding portion extending radially outwardly from the shoulder and sized to be snugly inserted into a valve hole until the shoulder abuts the inner cylindrical surface of the wheel, the first protruding portion extending from the inner cylindrical surface of the wheel to a tire-side outer cylindrical surface of the wheel; 
 a second protruding portion extending both radially inwardly and axially outwardly through a hole in a center plate of the wheel to thereby define a curved air passageway extending from a first opening in the first protruding portion to a second opening in the second protruding portion; and 
   a valve stem having external threads for engaging complementary internal threads inside the second protruding portion, the valve stem including a valve for selectively admitting air into a pneumatic tire when mounted on the wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first protruding portion also comprises internal threads. 
     
     
         3 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are substantially cylindrical, the first protruding portion being dimensioned to fit snugly into a circular valve hole. 
     
     
         4 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a length of the first protruding portion measured from the shoulder to the outer end of the first protruding portion is greater than or equal to a thickness of the wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a wall thickness of the valve body surrounding the air passageway is greatest where the air passageway curves. 
     
     
         6 . The valve as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the air passageway comprises a first threaded section inside the first protruding portion, a second threaded section inside the second protruding portion, a curved non-threaded section connected to the first threaded section and a straight non-threaded section connected between the curved section and the second threaded section, the threaded section having a larger internal diameter than the non-threaded sections. 
     
     
         7 . The valve as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first protruding section has airtight pipe threads. 
     
     
         8 . A method for installing a valve on a wheel, the method comprising:
 inserting the valve body into the valve hole;   tack-welding the valve body on the inner cylindrical surface of the wheel;   welding the valve body on a tire-side outer cylindrical surface of the wheel by filling a counterbore with weld;   grinding the weld flush with the tire-side outer cylindrical surface of the wheel; and   connecting a valve stem having a valve to the valve body.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising applying a pipe thread sealant to external threads of the valve stem prior to connecting the valve stem to the valve body. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising a subsequent step of performing a leak-test inspection of the valve. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the valve body and wheel are preheated to a minimum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) prior to inserting the valve body into the valve hole. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the valve body and wheel are preheated to a minimum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) prior to tack-welding. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising threading a bolt into the complementary internal threads of the first protruding portion prior to welding. 
     
     
         14 . A wheel-valve assembly comprising:
 a wheel adapted for receiving a tubeless tire; and   a rigid air valve comprising:
 a valve body having:
 a shoulder for abutting an inner cylindrical surface of the wheel; 
 a first protruding portion extending radially outwardly from the shoulder and sized to be snugly inserted into a valve hole until the shoulder abuts the inner cylindrical surface of the wheel, the first protruding portion extending from the inner cylindrical surface of the wheel to a tire-side outer cylindrical surface of the wheel; 
 a second protruding portion extending both radially inwardly and axially outwardly through a hole in a center plate of the wheel to thereby define a curved air passageway extending from a first opening in the first protruding portion to a second opening in the second protruding portion; and 
 
 a valve stem having external threads for engaging complementary internal threads formed in the second opening, the valve stem including a valve for selectively admitting air into a pneumatic tire when mounted on the wheel. 
   
     
     
         15 . The wheel-valve assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the first protruding portion has a first threaded section, the second protruding portion has a second threaded section, and wherein the air passageway further comprises:
 a curved non-threaded section connected to the first threaded section, and 
 a straight non-threaded section connected between the curved section and the second threaded section, 
 wherein the non-threaded sections have a smaller cross-sectional area than the threaded sections.